Dear Reader,
If you are anything like me, the holiday season brings on a plethora of emotions. There’s tremendous joy and anticipation for all the festive celebrations with family and friends. But the holidays can also bring on some feelings of anxiety and stress. That’s why I make sure to prioritize some me-time and indulge in something comforting. And 99% of the time, self-care for me means reading a good novel with a tasty snack. And the excitement I feel usually means I gravitate to books that also take place during this very special time of year.
In the spirit of the season, I’ve chosen a collection of uplifting Christmas reads that celebrate family, friendship, and fun holiday traditions. For more bookish fun, come visit me on Facebook or Instagram @JodiThomasAuthor and look for my next batch of recommendations in the magazine’s Spring 2025 issue. More Down Home Reads are on the way, so don’t go far, y’all!
Happy Reading,
Jodi Thomas
Jodi's Current Book Selections
Welcome to the festive, close-knit town of Noel, North Carolina, where the annual Twelve Competitions of Christmas are underway! Perfect for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies, this heartwarming romance is filled with second chances and new beginnings, when a woman discovers a sense of belonging in the welcoming community.
Friends since high school, four 30-something women reunite for a once-in-a-lifetime Italian adventure filled with tons of laughter, mischief, great food, and even a little romance in this humorous, heartwarming celebration of friendship and fun.
Start at the beginning with the very first Lucy Stone case, who is bound to be your new favorite amateur sleuth! Having sold over a million copies, this perennial favorite finds Lucy taking time out of her hectic holiday life to solve the mystery of a suspicious death and find a killer in her small Maine town.
There are never too many cowboys during Christmastime! Whether they’re out on the range or working in town, these men are rough, rugged, and ready for action. They’re true-blue cowboys who will show you just how hot they can be when they’re yours!
Against the Bridgerton-era backdrop of Regency London, Anna Bradley’s witty and sexy novel sets a fiercely alpha duke against his duchess who are determined to transform her delinquent husbands by any means necessary.
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